Tuesday, 25 June 2013

North West London offers some of the best places to live.

Image: freedigitalphtos

London has many famous landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and The Tower of London. These are all visited by hundreds of people every day, but these tourists are missing out on some fantastic places that are just a few miles out from the centre.

For those house-hunters looking for property in London, the North West postcodes offer some sought-after buildings that anyone would be proud to call home. Houses sell quickly in this area because of the great facilities available and the easy tube links.

Cricklewood in North West London is made up of mostly residential buildings built in the Victorian era. It does have a busy high street running through it, though, so your everyday needs are taken care of. This district used to be home to Cricklewood Studios, a movie making studio that produced horror pictures and short films in the 1930s. Nowadays a large retail area can be found in its place.

Hampstead is a trendy part of North West London with great shops and lively bars. Its famous heath spreads out for miles with great picnic spots, jogging trails and paths for walking. There are also three swimming ponds which are open all year, and they're all great sunbathing spots. Kenwood House can be found here; this handsome English Heritage building hosts classical music concerts al fresco during the summer.

Just north of Paddington is a pretty area called Little Venice. It's so named because two canals meet here and the main focus is the water. There are great canal-side walks, and for a little refreshment along the way, plenty of waterside cafes. The London Waterbus Company operates cruises from Little Venice, and there's a puppet theatre on one of the barge boats.

Trees line the streets of Maida Vale and the buildings are a mix of grand mansions blocks made of red brick and huge Edwardian houses. This area is very affluent and has been home to many great stars like Joan Collins and Sir Alec Guinness. BBC Maida Vale Studios can be found in Maida Vale. Currently classical music is recorded here, but it's more famously known for the original John Peel Sessions that used to be hosted in this building.

St John's Wood is a very exclusive area. Bankers and stock brokers are fond of the houses here and are able to afford the high property houses. Here you will find Lord's cricket ground, the home of cricket and the venue for national and international matches. Almost as famous is Abbey Road Studios which the Beatles made famous. They recorded a lot of their music here along with many great music stars. The crossing which features on the Beatles' Abbey Road album is so popular that it has its own live webcam running 24 hours a day.

Primrose Hill is one of the most desirable addresses in North West London. The park has an impressive hill and offers a jaw-dropping view from the top. Around the park are residential streets, and a small shopping area with pavement cafes. London Zoo is just a hop and skip away, as is Camden Lock. The only problem with this dream location is the houses prices, which are eye-wateringly high. But even if you can't afford to stay here permanently, it's really worth a day trip.